Electric coupling



sept. 1, 1925.

w. A. RlLEY- ELECTRIC COUPLING Filed De@t 27. 1924 Z, ze j7- 26 WITNESSESZ INVESTOR, 55M Z g )5552:

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Patented Sept. l, 1925.

UNITED STATES WALTER A. RILEY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

Application led December 27, 1924. Serial- No. 758,425.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER A. RILEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county ot New York and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Electric Coupling, of

which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

This invention has relation to electric connectors and pertains particularly to an improved coupling for electric conductors by means of which the connection and disconnection of the same is greatly facilitated.

The invention furthermore comprehends a coupling for electric conductors which insure-s a positive establishment of the circuit while rendering the coupling and uncoupling of the elements thereof capable of ready accomplishment especially in diflicult places.

The invention furthermore provides a coupling or connector which is comparatively simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture and which is highly efficient in its purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in view, the invention resides inthe novel construction set forth in the following speciication, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it'being undeistood that l the right is reserved to embodiments other than those actually illustrated herein, to the full extent indicated by the general meaning of the terms in which the claims are eX- pressed.

In the drawingsf Figure 1 is a side view of a coupling illustrating the plug and socket element in coupled relation, parts being broken away and shown in section to disclose the underlying structure.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the plug element removed from the socket element.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough the plug element taken approximately on the line indicated at 3- 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectlonal view thro-ugh the plug clement takenV approximately on the line 4 4 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference the coupling or connector includes a socket member 10 lwhich may be of any ordinary construction into which the conduit wires 11 and 12 are led the former being electrically connected with a threaded conductor socket 13 and the latter with a central contact 14 which members 1 3 and 14 are suit-ably insulated from each other. The socket element 10 is further provided with spaced external beads 15 which define therebetween a receiving lgroove 16.

The coupling or connector further includes a plug member 17 of an insulating material which is provided adjacent one end 'with an annulus or ring 18 of a conducting material and with a central contact member 19. Conductor wires 20 and 21 are respectively connected to the annulus 0r ring 18 and to the central Contact member 19. The plug adjacent its opposite end is provided with la cross member 22 the outwardly projecting portions of which have pivoted thereto as at 23 the arms 24 the inner free ends of which are provided with ,hooked terminals 25 and the orter free ends ot' which are covered by manipulating handle elements "26. The hooked terminals of the levers are tensioned against relative separa.- tion a-nd are normally swung toward each other by means of a spring 27.

In use and operation 'of the device, when it is' desired to apply the plug element to thc socket element the manipulating handles 26 are grasped and moved toward each other to effect relative separation of the hooked terminals 25 against the action of the spring 27, whereby the hooked terminals are'spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the outer bead 15. The end of the plug element having the central contact member 19 is then inserted within the 4threaded socket sleeve 13 of the socket memited distance from the end of the plug body j under'the influence of the spring 28. Th

spring 28 thus serves to insure a. positive en- 4 gagement of the central contact elements 14 and 19 and further functions to insure a firm gripping engagement of the hooked terminals 25 ywith the outer external bead 15 so,

that relative movement between the coupling members is eliminatedwhen the same are in coupled relation.

From the `'foregoing itA'will thus be seen that the connection'and disconnection of the connector elements is greatly facilitated, and eliminates the necessity of threading the usual threaded plug into a threaded socket.

1. A coupling device for detachably connecting electric conductor wires comprising a socket member having adjacent one end thereof an annular side contact element and a central contact element with which one pair of conductor Wires are respectively connected and a plug member having adjacent one end thereof a peripheral side contact element and a spring-pressed normally projecting central contact element with which another pair of conductor wires are connected, an interenga-geable means on said lug and socket member for detachably loc ing the same together said means comprising an annular grooved portion exteriorly of the socket member and pivoted latches having hooked terminals on the plug member, said terminals engageable. within the ooved portion at diametrically opposite po1nts.

2. A coupling device for detachably connecting electric conductor wires comprising a socket member having adjacent one end thereof an annular side contact element and a Acentral contact element with which one pair of conductor wires are respectively connected anda plug member having adjacent one end thereof a peripheral s1 e contact element and a spring-pressed normally projecting central contact element with which another pair of conductor wires are connected, an interengageable means on said plug and socket member for detachably locking the same together, said means com rising an annular grooved portionexterior y of the socket member and pivoted latches having hooked terminals on the plug member, said terminals engageable within the ooved portion at diametrically opposite polnts, the said spring-pressed central contact element vof the plug member` functioning to insure a positive engagement of the central contacts and a positive engagement of the hooked terminals with the outer wall of the grooved portion whereby to prevent relative movelment of the coupling members when assoried by the plug member and engageable within the keeper groove of the socket mem ber at diametrically opposite points for holding said members m coupled relation and the contact elements in engaged position, said means comprising a pair of pivoted latch members having hooked terminals at one end, means for normally effecting movement of said terminals and each other for holding the same engaged within the keeper groove and a manipulating handle at the opposite end of each latch adapted upon manipulation to effect relative separation of the hooked terminals to release the,

latch members.

lWALTER A. RILEY.l 

